CBSE, NCERT & UNESCO to expand wellness programmes in Indian schools
Read | CBSE, CISCE Fitness Initiatives: 'Displaying boards not enough,' opine parents
During June and July 2025, more than 290 principals, school leaders, and educators from 22 states and 5 union territories—including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and others—participated in the training sessions.
According to the release, Anandrao V Patil, IAS, Additional Secretary, DoSEL, Ministry of Education, emphasised the importance of mental health, gender equality, and inclusive education in achieving the holistic vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 'You are changemakers. Never forget that,' he said, reinforcing the role of education in shaping responsible and empathetic individuals.
CBSE mandates 'sugar boards' in schools to limit child diabetes
According to the release, Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director of NCERT, commended the collaborative efforts of CBSE, UNESCO, and NCERT in organising the workshop. Reflecting on the importance of understanding adolescents more deeply, Prof Dinesh Prasad Saklani emphasised that when underlying issues in a student's family go unnoticed, teachers may respond differently without realising the context. He noted that this is why such training is critical, as it helps educators recognise challenges and work towards achievable goals.
'Health and education are not separate goals; they are interlinked foundations for equity, dignity, and opportunity. Every wellness session, every teacher trained, every child heard, it's a step toward systems that put learners at the centre,' said Tim Curtis, Director of UNESCO South Asia Regional Office.
Under NCERT's leadership and with UNESCO's support, a 24-hour curriculum, training modules, and facilitator guides have been developed to aid implementation of the School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP). Supplementing these resources, the two organisations have also created animated videos and a comic book centred on the programme's 11 core themes—such as emotional well-being, gender equality, reproductive health, mental wellness, and safe internet practices. All materials are available in English, Hindi, and nine regional Indian languages.
Launched in February 2020 as part of the Government of India's Ayushman Bharat initiative, SHWP promotes a holistic, preventive, and proactive approach to student health through education. Since August 2022, NCERT has hosted eleven five-day workshops, training 970 Master Trainers who now lead programme implementation in schools and help train others through CBSE's Centres of Excellence.
To date, more than 40,000 teachers have been trained through 754 capacity-building programmes, marking a significant stride toward integrating wellness education nationwide.
(with inputs from ANI)
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